2014 Connecticut Governor's race: on Education

Tom Foley: In-district public school choice, money follows the child

For those schools that aren't doing well, you need to have "in-district public school choice, money follows the child." Foley said parents would make the decision on where to send their kids and he would revise the state grant per child by equating it with the child's needs.

"It shouldn't be a flat number, which is what happens today," Foley said. "That grant should be variable depending on the needs of the child," with less money for capable, independent students with a lot of enrichment at home and more for special needs children, he said.

Tom Foley: Charters are part of the solution, but not whole solution

Tom Foley: Local control instead of Common Core mandates

"I don't know why the governor would be interfering with those schools who are doing well under local control and mandating things like Common Core assessments," he said. "I adhere to the principal 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it," Foley said. "Let's go fix the schools that aren't working and let's leave alone those that are."

He accused Malloy of not engaging teachers and administrators when the process of teacher evaluations was changed and Common Core standards were starting to be put into effect.

"I'm a good listener. I like to incorporate everybody's views. I like to make sure that solutions incorporate the suggestions and hopefully gain the cooperation of those people who are going to be relied on to put them into effect," he said.